Festival of Making

Discover a curated selection highlighting our artist residency programme, Art in Manufacturing.

Hannah Leighton-Boyce + Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

Sam Williams Studio + Cardboard Box Company, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A close-up of a pink, fluted sculpture resembling an ice lolly, with similar blue and orange sculptures nearby. In the background stands a historic stone building with a large, oxidised copper dome under a clear sky.

James Bloomfield + Darwen Terracotta, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

Two young children in reflective vests play joyfully among scattered paper discs, with an adult smiling in the background. The floor is covered in confetti-like paper, creating a playful, messy scene indoors.

Sarah Marsh & Stephanie Jefferies + Herbert Parkinson, 2023.

A group of people in a workshop observing Raisa Kabir demonstrating textile machinery.

Raisa Kabir with John Spencer + Queen Street Mill, 2022. Photo by Richard Tymon.

Heritage Envelopes, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

A group of people sit on the floor in a dark room, watching a large screen that shows a video of a man working with a large tool or machine in a workshop.

Jacqueline Donachie + Lancashire Saw Company, 2022. Photo by Jules Lister.

Three women stand indoors holding microphones. The woman in the centre is speaking, while the other two listen attentively. They are near large windows with natural light shining in.

Radical Pairings, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Two people in white coats and black trousers leap into the air with arms raised, performing dynamic jumps outside on a sunny day, with a large building featuring a spire in the background.

Ruth Jones + Cherrytree Bakery, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

Martyn Ware in a blue jacket and sunglasses sits at a wooden table in an empty retro bar with a red counter and mirrored backdrop.

Martyn Ware + The Manufacturers of Lancashire, 2018. Photo by GS Visuals.

Cookson & Clegg, 2023. Photo Danny Allison.

A dark room with multiple TV screens on metal stands, each displaying abstract black-and-white patterns and shapes. The screens are arranged at different heights and angles, creating a modern art installation.

Liz Wilson + Spiroflow, 2019. Photo by Lee Smillie.

A person holds two large reels of thread in an industrial setting, with their hand and the reels in sharp focus and the background blurred in a textile manufacturing facility.

Blackburn Yarn Dyers, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

Horace Lindezey + The Making Rooms, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Ibukun Baldwin + Cookson & Clegg, 2023. Photo Danny Allison.

A framed vintage photo of a couple stands on a table with wooden elephant figurines, a ceramic couple, a small bouquet, and other decorative items; people and bright teal curtains are blurred in the background.

Dawinder Bansal + Domestic Makers, 2018. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A focused person with glasses works on a clay sink, using a small sculpting tool.

Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A close-up of a colourful fabric sculpture featuring a smiling face with bold blue features, blue cheeks, and patterned patches of fabric in various colours forming hair around the face.

Ibukun Baldwin + Cookson & Clegg, 2023. Photo Jules Lister.

Jamie Holman + Roach Bridge Tissues, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

A group sits in a large circle of chairs in a spacious room with arched windows and wooden floors, watching a performance as a child dances in the centre.

Martyn Ware + The Manufacturers of Lancashire, 2018. Photo by GS Visuals.

A group of people stand and sit in a bright gallery space, listening to a speaker near a colourful woven wall hanging. Textile artworks and samples are displayed on the wooden floor.

Anna Ray + Forbo Flooring, 2019. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Two children walk out of a large, shell-like, cardboard structure inside a spacious hall with an ornate blue ceiling and arched windows. Several similar colourful pod installations are scattered around the room.

Lazerian + Cardboard Box Company, 2017. Photo by GS Visuals.

Stacks of ceramic moulds and pottery forms are organised on wooden pallets in a spacious workshop with a person visible in the background through an open orange-framed door.

Darwen Terracotta, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Woman in a patterned shirt holds a colour swatch book, examining vibrant textile samples, with colourful hanging artwork in the background.

Anna Ray + Forbo Flooring, 2019. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A metal sculpture circular cut-outs sits on a concrete floor in a sunlit room with large glass windows. A person with blonde hair is visible through the window in the background.

Nicola Ellis + Ritherdon, 2018. Photo by GS Visuals.

Several thick, smooth, beige tubes of clay are stacked horizontally, with some tubes slightly bent or compressed where they meet, showing textured and rougher ends.

Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A person with glasses and a beard looks at a pile of assorted fabric pieces in an industrial setting, with caution tape on the foreground barrier.

Liaqat Rasul + Herbert Parkinson, 2025. Photo by Danny Allison.

Gallery space with tall, abstract metal sculptures resembling trees. A blurred figure walks, and others observe.

David Murphy + WEC Group, 2018. Photo by GS Visuals.

Margo Selby + Standfast & Barracks, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A control panel with a red angry face and a green happy face, each with a corresponding light. The green light is lit. Two warning beacons, one red and one orange, are attached below the panel labelled “T.P.M.”.

The Senator Group, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

A woman crouches and takes a photo of abstract white sculptures arranged on wooden platforms in a spacious, industrial-style gallery.

Hannah Leighton-Boyce + Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A person wearing protective gear and a face visor is welding metal, with bright sparks and blue light illuminating their work in an industrial setting.

Nicola Ellis + Ritherdon, 2018. Photo by Danny Allison.

A brightly lit cardboard art installation of ropes and bars sits in a large industrial hall with arched windows and exposed brick, as visitors observe.

Sam Williams Studio + Cardboard Box Company, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Lewis Jones in a red jumper reaches for a textured, fibrous building material sample on a wooden shelf, surrounded by other rectangular samples of various smooth materials.

Matter at hand + Darwen Terracotta, 2025. Photo by Danny Allison.

Ruth Jones + Cherrytree Bakery, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

People walk inside a large, historic hall with exposed stone walls, arched windows, and a teal arched ceiling. A modern, white geometric structure stands at the centre of the space.

Liz West + Graham & Brown, 2018. Photo by GS Visuals.

Two people on a blue lift paint a colourful mural with large flowers and geometric shapes on a wall. They work next to a brick building, using tools and wearing casual clothing and safety vests.

Morag Myerscough + Crown Paints, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Hands hold stacks of paper beside a large, spinning printing press labeled with the number 49.

Heritage Envelopes, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

A large yellow industrial machine with gears is displayed outdoors near a modern glass cylindrical building under a cloudy sky.

Sarah Hardacre + Surface Print, 2018. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A hanging art piece made from maps, plastic, and metal clips, arranged in an arch shape with a round, black object in the centre. Colourful cloth-wrapped objects hang on either side.

Liaqat Rasul + Herbert Parkinson, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Stack of large, hollow clay pipes with a rough, uneven texture. The pipes are stacked in a neat formation.

Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A woman in a green coat and patterned trousers stands and smiles as another woman in a white top and long pink skirt applauds her, surrounded by a crowd in a bright, modern gallery space.

Radical Pairings, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A large bundle of assorted fabric offcuts in various colours and patterns is tightly packed together, with rolls of fabric stored on shelves in the background.

Herbert Parkinson, 2023. Photo by Danny Allison.

A person presses a round stamp onto a colourful chart with various circular stickers.

Nehal Aamir + Darwen Terracotta, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Red canal boat moored on a calm river under blue skies with fluffy clouds, as a group of people stand on a grassy path by brick buildings enjoying the scene.

Jacqueline Donachie + Lancashire Saw Company, 2022. Photo by Emma Colbert-Mooring.

A collage of 18 colourful photographs is arranged in a grid on a textured, whitewashed brick wall, showcasing various industrial scenes, architectural details, and urban environments.

Radical Pairings, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Two people in blue overalls work in a bright, sunlit studio filled with sculptures, tools, and supplies. Dust and materials are scattered on tables and the floor.

Hannah Leighton-Boyce + Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A pile of small, round balls in various colours including grey, blue, teal, pink, and white, resting on a metallic surface.

Spiroflow, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

Matter at hand + Darwen Terracotta, 2025. Photo by Danny Allison.

A person works on a project inside a shipping container, using a large industrial robotic arm. The container doors are open, and the setting appears to be an industrial or workshop space.

Liz Wilson + CNC Robotics, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A person with glasses and dark hair in a bun is focused on their work, seen through vertical threads on a loom. The background is a light green wall.

Raisa Kabir with John Spencer + Queen Street Mill, 2022. Photo by Richard Tymon.

Close-up of a person using a grinder on metal, wearing blue gloves, with sparks flying.

Lancashire Saw Company, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A white art gallery space is seen through a large stone archway with exposed brickwork. Colourful, mixed-media artwork is displayed on the back wall, surrounded by bright lighting.

Liaqat Rasul + Herbert Parkinson, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A person with curly hair, wearing a black and white spotty shirt, stands and gestures while speaking to an audience in a room with blue abstract wall art. The photo is taken from behind the seated audience.

Nicola Ellis + Ritherdon, 2022. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Craftsperson carefully painting a sculptural piece with a fine brush in a bright workshop, with another worker blurred in the background.

Darwen Terracotta, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

In a public square, a wooden archway made of cut out timber sheet by Tim Denton stands. Two adults walk underneath.

Tim Denton + OEP UK, 2022. Photo by Simon Bray.

A small sculpture made of blue material sits on a textured brown platform, which is mounted on a wooden stand against a background of softly coloured walls in shades of peach and grey.

Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A man in a blue lab coat works with metal machinery in an industrial workshop filled with large windows, tools, and metal sheets on the floor.

Lancashire Saw Company, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

Sam Belinfante + Panaz, 2023. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Sam Williams Studio + Cardboard Box Company, 2024. Photo by Jules Lister.

Ibukun Baldwin + Cookson & Clegg, 2023. Photo Robin Zahler.

A circular embroidery hoop displays a black-and-white image of a woman wearing a headscarf and patterned clothing, with colourful thread accentuating her headscarf. She appears to be focused on an activity with her hands.

Daksha Patel + Blackburn Yarn Dyers, at British Textile Biennial, 2019. Photo by Richard Tymon.

Two arms extend downwards from a ceiling decorated with swan figurines, meeting in a handshake. The arms appear to emerge from holes in the ceiling. Art materials and a statue are visible in the background.

Michelle Wren + Graham & Brown, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

A man wearing a blue shirt pours liquid clay from a large yellow container into a mould at a workshop filled with rows of upright, rectangular moulds. Sunlight streams in through windows on the right.

Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A bumblebee collects nectar from small purple flowers, with a colourful, blurred background featuring vertical stripes and vibrant hues.

Morag Myerscough + Crown Paints, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A close-up of a large industrial roller coated with thick, pale pink liquid and some reddish streaks, likely in a manufacturing or food processing setting.

Surface Print, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

A group of people gathers inside a vaulted, arched brick structure with gothic-style architecture, listening to speakers at the front of the room. Clothing hangs on a rail to the left.

Sarah Marsh & Stephanie Jefferies + Herbert Parkinson, 2023. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Nehal Aamir + Darwen Terracotta, 2024. Photo by Jules Lister.

A group of people view an indoor art installation with a large illuminated sphere resembling the moon, set against textured backdrops and draped fabric under teal ceiling panels.

Sam Belinfante + Panaz, 2023. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Close-up of a textured wall corner painted in shades of pink and white, with a smooth, flat surface below in a reddish-orange colour. The image highlights contrasts between rough and smooth surfaces.

Darwen Terracotta, 2022. Photo by Danny Allison.

A close up of badges which say 'we can do more'.

Dan Edwards + Senator Group, 2019. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Horace Lindezey + The Making Rooms at Fitzrovia Chapel, 2025. Photo by Rob Harris.

Close-up of a large industrial machine part with a geometric, star-like metal pattern and a central green circular component, showing bolts and metallic textures.

Anna Ray + Forbo Flooring, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

Two factory workers wearing protective gloves and aprons work together on assembling or inspecting a metal structure in an industrial setting. One worker gestures and explains whilst the other observes attentively.

Sapien + SWS UK, 2023. Photo by Danny Allison.

Four women stand at the end of a long, formal dining table with a red and white table runner, looking closely and discussing something on the table, which is set with plates, glasses, and a floral centrepiece.

Horace Lindezey + The Making Rooms, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A fabric panel lists textile job titles like warper, weaver, and cutter in yellow text. The panel hangs in a modern, airy room with wooden floors, tall windows, and minimalistic white display plinths.

Radical Pairings, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Lewis Jones in a maroon jumper and brown trousers stands among large sculpted blocks in an indoor space, with a screen showing a mechanical image behind him.

Matter at hand + Darwen Terracotta, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A dimly lit space displays geometric sculptures and screens showing black-and-white abstract digital images, arranged on curved and rectangular plinths on a wooden floor. Soft spotlights illuminate parts of the installation, and in the background, a large screen shows rippling water.

Liz Wilson + CNC Robotics, 2022. Photo by Jules Lister.

Artist concentrating on a sewing project at a wooden table.

Bella May Leonard + Silent Night, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

A warning sign on a wire fence shows a raised hand inside a red circle with a diagonal line, indicating no entry or do not touch. The sign also features a person wearing a safety helmet.

The Senator Group, 2019. Photo by Danny Allison.

Cookson & Clegg, 2023. Photo Danny Allison.

A colourful mural featuring large geometric flowers decorates the side of a building at the end of a street. Road signs and red-brick buildings surround the mural under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Morag Myerscough + Crown Paints, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Nehal Aamir + Darwen Terracotta, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Margo Selby + Standfast & Barracks, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Stacks of large plastic buckets covered in dried, colourful paint drips and smudges, each labelled with white paper. The buckets are arranged in rows, creating a vibrant, messy pattern.

Cardboard Box Company, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Margo Selby + Standfast & Barracks, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Jeni McConnell + Cookson & Clegg, 2017. Photo by Richard Tymon.

Nehal Aamir + Darwen Terracotta, 2024. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Sam Williams Studio + Cardboard Box Company, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Several white garments hang on metal hangers attached to a conveyor system in a brightly lit industrial laundry or factory setting, with blue rails and wheels above them.

Herbert Parkinson, 2023. Photo by Danny Allison.

A panel of six people sits on a stage in front of an audience in a large room with arched stone architecture. Two screens display yellow graphics, and a banner reads “Conversations about collections, education, exploration, inspiration”.

Conversations in Creativity, 2019. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A man with a beard and glasses stands with his arms crossed, looking at colourful, eclectic textile and mixed-media art pieces hanging on a white wall. The scene is vibrant and creative.

Liaqat Rasul + Herbert Parkinson, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A vibrant mural with large colourful flowers, geometric shapes, and bold patterns covers the entire side of a building at a street corner under a partly cloudy sky. An art installation stands in front.

Morag Myerscough + Crown Paints, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

Margo Selby + Standfast & Barracks, at British Textile Biennial, 2025. Photo by Jack Bolton.

A modern art installation in a gallery features several large, metallic saw blades bent into wave shapes on the floor, placed in front of a video screen and two speakers against a beige wall.

Radical Pairings, 2025. Photo by Robin Zahler.

A spacious, high-ceilinged workshop with large windows, filled with stacked boxes, materials, and wooden pallets. The walls and floor are dusty, suggesting ongoing building or refurbishment work.

Darwen Terracotta, 2024. Photo by Danny Allison.

Raisa Kabir with John Spencer and Queen Street Mill

Commissioned for Art in Manufacturing in 2019 in collaboration with British Textile Biennial, Raisa Kabir began working between John Spencer, a sixth-generation family weaving business and the last remaining traditional cotton weaver in Burnley, and Queen Street Mill, now a Grade 1 listed Museum with extensive archives and the last surviving 19th century steam powered weaving mill in the world.

Film by Wash
Film supported with funding from Creative Lancashire

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Hannah Leighton-Boyce + Darwen Terracotta

Hannah Leighton-Boyce began her residency with Darwen Terracotta in 2019, working through 2020, 2021 and the beginning of 2022. The necessary extended nature of her placement allowed the artist to explore a range of ideas and reflect on working in a factory in that moment; considering what it means to work slowly and with care in this context, and to reflect on being ‘unproductive’ in a highly productive setting.

Film by Wash
Film supported with funding from Creative Lancashire

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Liz Wilson + CNC Robotics

First in residence with manufacturer Spiroflow in 2019 where she created The Optical Mechanical, Wilson went on to undertake her second Art in Manufacturing residency with industry-leading technologists, CNC Robotics. Regular trips to the factory from the artist’s base in Kent allowed her to work within the factory’s making schedule, utilising the robotics to carve, extrude and mould sculptures. Forms of fossils, horses legs and the rudder of a canal boat became artefacts to experience alongside video work and new audio combining factory sounds and the artist’s voice.

Film by Wash
Film supported with funding from Creative Lancashire

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